As winter approaches, demand for flu vaccinations, winter wellness products, travel vaccines, sore-throat testing and other pharmacy services skyrockets.
But with every pharmacy from independents to big chains trying to capture this seasonal revenue, the question becomes: Should pharmacies invest in paid social ads to promote flu and winter wellbeing services?
Here’s a look at what paid social ads can do for your pharmacy, and the safest and most cost-effective approach to boost search engine optimisation and winter traffic.
Why consider paid social ads for pharmacy services?
Most local customers spend hours each day on Meta platforms (Facebook and Instagram). With organic reach getting weaker, relying on standard posts alone often isn’t enough to fill winter clinics.
Paid social ads allow pharmacies to:
- Target only people in their local postcode radius
- Reach high-intent audiences (families, carers, travellers, older adults)
- Promote time-sensitive services like flu jabs
- Build brand awareness against supermarket and chain pharmacies
For services that depend on quick uptake, such as flu vaccines, sore-throat tests, and immune-support bundles, ads can generate results within days.
What services perform best in social ads during winter?
Flu Vaccinations
Flu jab ads remain one of the highest-performing pharmacy campaigns. You can:
- Promote availability and pricing
- Drive bookings through an online calendar
- Target parents, commuters and vulnerable groups
- Reassure people with safety and convenience messaging
Compliance matters, but ads focusing on “convenient local flu jabs” and “book online” perform exceptionally well.
Winter wellness products
Customers are looking for products such as immune-support vitamins, cold & flu packs, skincare for dry winter skin, humidifiers, or travel-friendly health kits.
A simple carousel ad can:
- Increase online sales
- Boost in-store footfall
- Showcase bundles
This works particularly well when paired with free click-and-collect.
Sore throat & strep A testing
As cold and flu season intensifies, demand for quick relief grows.
Paid ads help promote:
- Rapid sore throat assessments
- Strep A testing (where applicable)
- Follow-up treatment services
Highlight the benefit: fast answers, no GP wait times.
Travel vaccines for Christmas & new year holidays
Around November and December, travel ads surge. Paid social allows pharmacies to reach last-minute holidaymakers and frequent flyers. Common targeting includes people interested in travel, airports, winter sun destinations.
Are paid social ads cost-effective for pharmacies?
Yes, when done correctly. Average ad spend for pharmacies is relatively low:
- £100 – £300 per month for local campaigns
- Cost per booking often sits between £4 –£15
- ROI is typically strong because clinical services have higher margins
Just one or two extra flu jab bookings can pay for the entire month’s budget.
What should pharmacies avoid with social ads?
- Making medical claims
- Using restricted wording (Meta is strict on health content)
- Over-targeting sensitive groups
- Running ads without a landing page or booking system
- Forgetting to update opening hours and pricing
Should pharmacies invest in paid social ads this winter?
In most cases, yes. Paid social ads help independent pharmacies stand out, fill clinics faster, promote winter wellbeing products, and compete with online retailers and national chains.
For pharmacies that want reliable winter bookings, paid social is one of the most efficient tools available.